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VACC INAT IONS
WORKING
TOGETHER
FOR A HEALTHIER FUTURE...
21
LIVESTOCK MATTERS
Other vaccines
Abortion vaccines must be given at least four
weeks before mating as they can cause a high
temperature that suppresses ovulation. There is
some evidence of the Chlamydophila vaccine
causing abortions, but these cases are unusual
and the vaccines still offer the best protection
against the commonest form of abortion.
The louping ill vaccine is still effective against
this disease, although its availability can be a
bit of a problem. Finally, footrot vaccines; they
have been around for a while and are getting
more attention as our understanding of footrot
improves. Their use should form part of a
specific lameness plan.
Planning
The variety of diseases that can be vaccinated
for means that several vaccines can be in use
during the year. It's vital that the timing of
vaccination is planned carefully if the best
use is to be made of these valuable and cost
effective medicines.
Needlesticks Injuries
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) recently highlighted a
need for farmers to improve needle safety and minimise the risks of
accidental self-injury; as they report that the number of serious injuries
from injecting animals is on the rise.
Professor Colin Robertson of the University
of Edinburgh illustrated the nature of the
risks involved in a recent presentation to
the Veterinary Products Committee (an
independent advisory committee to the VMD).
While a lot of work has already been done
in the medical profession to minimise the
risk of needlestick injuries, it is only now
beginning to be fully appreciated as an
issue affecting those who give injections
to animals on a regular basis.
Hand injuries are understandably the most
common injury. But injuries have also led
to the development of bacterial infections
such as cellulitis (a skin infection) and sepsis
(a potentially fatal condition characterised
by widespread inflammation and
blood-clotting in the body) as well as local
allergic reactions to what has been injected
including, in some cases, anaphylactic shock.
The most common reasons for these injuries
are accidental self-injection through handling
restless animals and/or unsafe needle
practices. Some examples of the injuries
seen are shown opposite.
Keith Siddorn who is a VPC member and a
working farmer said: ‘The images presented
by Professor Robertson really brought home to
me the serious dangers that farmers face in
their daily work with animals if they do not
use needles properly.
As a farmer, I'm aware that the illnesses and
injuries described are not uncommon.
However, I now realise it's vital that as well
as taking the necessary precautions, farmers
should report to the VMD any illnesses or
injuries they sustain when handling veterinary
medicines, so that the VMD can monitor
them as part of its Suspected Adverse
Reaction Scheme.’